In general, the invention provides a magnetic head device and linear tape drive that widen the high frequency side of the servo range. In particular, the invention provides a magnetic head device comprising a magnetic head chip with multiple magnetic elements arranged for recording or playback of multiple tracks and a fine positioning structure that uses a bimodal construction that may widen the high frequency side of the servo range by increasing the resonant frequency of the magnetic head chip including the tracking structure and lowering the Q value of the resonance point. In addition, the invention includes a damping structure suitable for the fine positioning structure that improves high speed response by widening the range in which the magnetic head device can be used for a servo. The magnetic head device may use a linear tape drive method.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A magnetic head device for recording and playing back information on magnetic tape comprising: a multi channel magnetic head chip with multiple magnetic head elements; a tracking structure comprising a twin bimodal type actuator wherein the twin bimodal type actuator includes a pair of bimodal elements that are positioned to face each other, wherein the magnetic head chip is placed between the free ends of the pair of bimodal elements and is mechanically bonded to the pair of bimodal elements, and wherein application of a tracking control signal to the pair of bimodal elements displaces the magnetic head chip; and a damping structure comprising a structure that holds visco-elastic materials and a damping body inserted in the visco-elastic materials and that is mechanically connected to the magnetic head chip.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the damping structure suppresses vibration due to shear stress between the visco-elastic material and the damping body.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the damping body comprises a pair of symmetrical or asymmetrical damping bodies, wherein one of the pair of damping bodies is located at each end of the multi channel direction of the magnetic head chip.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the damping structure generates shear stress between the damping body and the visco-elastic material, wherein a direction of the shear stress is different from a displacement direction of the magnetic head chip.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the damping structure includes a displacement regulating step that limits a displacement direction of the damping body to a predetermined direction.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the damping structure further comprises a displacement regulating step having grooves or projections formed on walls along a displacement direction of the damping body that contact the visco-elastic material.
7. The device of claim 5 , wherein displacement of the magnetic head chip at an angle is restricted by the displacement direction of the regulating step.
8. The device of claim 5 , wherein displacement in a perpendicular direction of the magnetic head chip is restricted by the displacement regulating step.
9. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a damping step at the fixed end of the pair of bimodal elements that allows adjustment of the damping properties.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the damping body comprises a damping bar that projects from both ends of the magnetic head chip on the same line as a center of gravity of the magnetic head chip.
11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the damping step includes a movable holder that holds the visco-elastic materials that come into contact with the damping body and adjusts the contact area between the visco-elastic material and damping body.
12. The device of claim 10 , wherein the damping property adjusting step has a movable holder which holds the visco-elastic materials that come into contact with the damping body and adjusts the contact area between the visco-elastic materials and damping body.
13. The device of claim 11 , wherein the damping body comprises a damping plate that is attached on the opposite side from the magnetic head side of the head chip, wherein the holder moves along a surface of the damping plate.
14. The device of claim 12 , wherein the holder moves in the axial direction of the damping bar.
15. The device of claim 10 , wherein a top end of the damping bar is R shaped.
16. The device of claim 12 , wherein a top end of the damping bar is R shaped.
17. The device of claim 14 , wherein a top end of the damping bar is R shaped.
18. The device of claim 10 , wherein the damping body comprises multiple damping bars.
19. The device of claim 12 , wherein the damping body comprises multiple damping bars.
20. A linear tape drive system that uses linear tape with multiple magnetic tracks extending in the lengthwise direction formed across the width of a magnetic tape comprising: a tape cassette around which the magnetic tape is wound; a magnetic head device comprising a multi channel magnetic head chip with multiple magnetic head elements, a twin bimodal type actuator, and a damping structure comprising a structure that holds visco-elastic materials and a damping body inserted in the visco-elastic materials that is mechanically connected to the magnetic head chip; and a magnetic tape guide that guides the magnetic tape drawn from the tape cassette to the magnetic head device; wherein the twin bimodal type actuator includes a pair of bimodal elements that are positioned to face each other, the magnetic head chip is placed between the free ends of the pair of bimodal elements and is mechanically bonded to the pair of bimodal elements, and wherein application of a tracking control signal to the pair of bimodal elements displaces the magnetic head chip.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
January 24, 2005
March 4, 2008
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